Thursday, August 31, 2017

In 2016 the Duffer Brothers tapped into audiences fondness and nostalgia for the 80s with a sci-fi horror TV series that was a mashup of Steven Spielberg and Stephen Kingtropes, with a single mother, local sheriff and some plucky kids embarking an an adventure to rescue a missing son and friend, pitted against sinister supernatural forces and aided by a mysterious experiment. To say the original Netflix series has been a hit is an understatement, with season two arriving this Halloween.

These debut season costumes worn by the cast, including Winona Ryder, David Harbour, Millie Bobby Brown, Gaten Matarazzo ('Dustin' is quite possibly my favourite character) and Noah Schnapp, were photographed on display at the 11th Outstanding Art of Television Costume Designexhibitionat Downtown L.A.'s FIDM Museum on August 23, 2017.

Monday, August 28, 2017

If like me you enjoyed Netflix's historical period drama, The Crown, then you'll love taking a closer look at some of the lavish costumes recreated to match some of the iconic looks worn by a young 'Queen Elizabeth II' and other members of her family. The first season of Peter Morgan's biographical drama covers the period from her Majesty's wedding in 1947 to the events up to 1955, including her coronation.

This collection of five costumes from the series greeted visitors to the 11th Outstanding Art of Television Costume Design exhibit at Downtown L.A.'s FIDM Museum on August 23, 2017.

Replica Princess Elizabeth Wedding Dress

worn by Claire Foy in The Crown

Claire Foy wonderfully portrays Queen Elizabeth II in the early part of her reign and earned the actress a Golden Globe win and an Emmy nomination for Lead Actress. The future queen wears this wedding dress when she married 'Philip Mountbatten, Duke of Edinburgh' (played by Matt Smith) on 20 November, 1947.

This recreation of Norman Hartnell's wedding gown featured a 15ft star-patterned train inspired by the famous Botticelli Renaissance painting of Primavera, symbolising rebirth and growth after WWII.

Ballgown worn by Claire Foy as Queen Elizabeth

in The Crown

This turquoise ballgown was another costume designed to resemble a look from the Queen's early reign, complete with fur stole and replica tiara.

World Tour costume worn by Claire Foy

as Queen Elizabeth in The Crown

The Crown is one of Netflix's most expensive series to date, with each episode costing over $10 million to make, but aside from the lavish sets and abundance of actors to make history seem real, you can see where the money was well spent with these formal, state visit and ceremonial costumes.

Costume worn by Vanessa Kirby as Princess Margaret

in The Crown

Vanessa Kirby stars as the Queen's fun-loving younger sister, 'Princess Margaret', who is having a scandalous affair with 'Group Captain Peter Townsend' (played by Ben Miles).

Costume worn by Alex Jennings as David Windsor

in The Crown

In the series Alex Jennings plays the Queen's disgraced uncle, 'David Windsor' aka the 'Duke of Windsor' and ex-'King Edward VIII', who abdicated from the throne of England to marry the twice-divorced American 'Wallis Simpson'.

Crown Jewels replica props used in The Crown

Here's also a look at the convincing replica ceremonial crown jewels from Queen Elizabeth II's coronation on June 2, 1953, that were used in the show.